KINGS @ ANAHEIM DUCKS GAME PREVIEW

Something that is not a left winger. Something that is not an offensively dynamic system. Something that does not use the longest hockey stick allowed. Something that is not Ukrainian.

Is it John Zeiler, recently cleared from the waiver wire?

Could be. That remains to be seen.

Is it Brayden Schenn, fresh off 7 points in 7 games with the Monarchs?

That’s what we call wishful thinking.

Its the holiday season, so Disney must fit in somewhere. Ah. There it is.

The Anaheim Ducks.

One would think it difficult to be missing something that is never missed, nor wanted. Such is not the case with the dichotomous, mutually symbiotic need shared between the Los Angeles Kings and that other team near the theme park. In the Kings, the Ducks have their reason for being and a source to usurp fickle fans. In the Ducks, the Kings have a rival to fight with for bragging rights and the ever dangling carrot of a playoff series that would blow any and all previous match-ups out of the water in terms of vigor and hostility.

Both teams are missing their ability to win hockey games.

The Ducks have 1 win in their last 7 games. The Kings also have 1 win in their last 7. Someone will be on the up and up after this game. The Ducks just snapped a 6 game losing streak on Saturday against Phoenix. The Kings are in the middle of a three game losing streak. To me, that means the Ducks are due to start another losing streak and the Kings are ready to snap one.

If ever there were a time for pride and passion to be a precursor to power, tonight is the perfect set-up. A nice, soft, underhand slow pitch from an orange mound. As is always the case in a losing streak, this game presents an opportunity to rebound. The Ducks must be used in the same manner as the hideous wart-faced wench you picked up at the Yardhouse Saturday night to forget about the girl from Chicago who laughed at you earlier that evening. Just stay away from the women in Anaheim… I hear they are actually all men.

Speaking of men, that brings me to another thing the Kings have been missing. Namely, a man to step up in the locker room and demand this team do better. A man to take that charge on to the ice and make a difference. A man to put even a single shift on his back and carry his team toward the net and through it.

Finally, you may remember just a month ago, before a single regular season game was played between these two teams, the rivalry for the year was started by none other than Pink himself. When Corey Perry and his buddy Joffrey Lupul invaded a Halloween party thrown by a Kings’ fan, they set themselves up for revenge that will begin tonight. So for those of you King fans who will be treading into enemy territory to see this game live, make sure Corey Perry remembers that we know of his misdeeds.

5 replies

This is a perfect game to get back on track. Lubo is probably not in the Quacks lineup tonight, so their joke of a defense is one more short tonight. I’m not crazy about Zeiler coming back in tonight, but since it’s against the Ducks, we could use another high energy, physical player who can drop the gloves. Anaheim’s annual dirty player summer pickup Andy Sutton is back in the lineup, and we need someone to make sure the dirty Ducks don’t walk all over Kopi, Brown, or, in Perry’s case, “accidentally” run into Quick. I will be watching on FSWest (thank God for no Ahlers and Hayward) and I expect the arena 2/3 full of Kings fans to be heard on the TV. Speaking of fans, Ducks fans are out in full force on the Ducks OCR Blog doing what they do best: trashing Kings fans and the “classless” organization instead of focusing on the hockey itself. I suggest reading Backcheck’s Blog- a blog run by a delusional Ducks fan who claims the Kings are the NHL’s most overrated team and have the worst fans in the league.

I expect a win tonight. And we better win, otherwise the Foul Fowl will move ahead of us in the standings (we’ll have 3 games in hand) and I bet Ducks fans will be ALL over that.

What are the odds Zeiler scores a goal tonight. I predict he gets at least a point.

What we need tonight is number 11 to actually play like a relevant so-called star. I’m tired of him floating around the boards all the time. I’m tired of him receiving the puck in center ice and his first couple strides are towards the boards. I’m tired of him, with speed on the outside going behind the net instead of him attacking the net. I’m tired of him not wanting the puck to make a difference but pass it as fast as he can to someone else and hope they do something with it. I’m tired of him always watching his teammates battle for puck. I’m tired of him, while skating 20-24 minutes a game wins maybe 2-3 individual puck battles. I’m tired of him not shooting or using the space he supposedly needs on the PP. Why did it take him 4 touches to shoot and finally score on the 5-3 last game while at the point. Number 11 is good at taking advantage of his teammates hard word or fortunate bounces. He never creates anything for himself. Don’t mistake my rant for not understanding he has tons of skill, tons! I also understand he isn’t playing with much talent but he does not play anywhere close to his skill set. He needs to understand he’s the star and needs to act like it. Quit being a wimp and take charge both in your head and on the ice. I still have hope for you 11 but I’m slowly turning on you. I’ve been holding that in for about a year now. Sorry folks.

On to better things. Kick some ass tonight boys. Just play your game and we’ll be fine. Go Kings

Kopitar must have been one of the players TM kept overtime in the film room. I’ll be Kopitar is playing one of his better games. He’s actually attacking the middle and rotating. Well done number 11. Had some nice passes this game as well. That’s the guy I want to see every game.

When Kopitar made that strong move through the middle, toward the net, Bob says, “that reminds of the move he made last year against Dallas.” Last year? That’s one of my points, he should be doing that nightly, not yearly. During the PP, Fox say’s, “at least Kopitar is rotating or moving and not just standing there.” He even attacked and shot the puck a few times on that PP. That’s what I want to see from the most skilled player. He had a good tonight. I